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Alberta teachers call for more Syrian refugee student funding

ATA says it needs more money to properly teach the more than 1,000 students who are registered in public schools across the province.

Teachers debating more than 200 resolutions but one of the major topics is Syrian refugee funding

David Bell · CBC News ·

Alberta teachers looking for more refugee support

9 years ago
Duration 0:31
ATA says Syrian refugee students have unique needs that require support

More than 400 teachers are in Calgary this weekend for the annual representative assembly of the Alberta Teachers' Association.

The teachers are debating more than 200 resolutions but one of the major topics is Syrian refugee funding.

Teachers are discussing about 200 resolutions at the weekend conference in Calgary. (CBC)

The ATA says it needs more money to properly teach the more than 1,000 students who are registered in public schools across the province.

ATA President Mark Ramsankar says there are a variety of issues that need to be addressed.

"Those include language barriers obviously coming in," Ramsankar said.

ATA President Mark Ramsankar says refugee students have unique needs that require additional support. (CBC)

"Many of these children have not had formal schooling so adjusting to a formal school setting becomes an issue. There are quite a variety of social and mental issues that are associated with moving from a country and having the stability of your life … becoming a refugee, coming to a new country, it has an emotional impact on children."

Education Minister David Eggen said the current funding model is going to remain in place.

"The provincial government, we provide $5,000 dollars or so per refugee student. And we continue that on for a period of five years. We have a good track record here for accommodating new Canadians," Eggen said.

Education Minister David Eggen said refugee students receive about $5,000 per student, per year, over a period of 5 years. (CBC)

"We have done this for generations in Alberta schools. It is part of who we are as Albertans to welcome and to bring new people into our province."

The conference wraps Monday.

With files from Andrew Brown

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